Air diffusing and water misting apparatuses, systems and methods

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system, and method for providing a non-linear fluid stream into an environment for cooling purposes are disclosed. Such an apparatus includes a body portion and a nozzle, the nozzle being adapted to direct water into the environment. Such an apparatus may include a body portion having a flow channel defined therein for gas flow therethrough; and, a nozzle operatively disposed within the flow channel; said nozzle adapted to direct a liquid therefrom; wherein the channel and the nozzle are operatively disposed relative to each other so that a gas flowing through the channel and the liquid are combined into a fluid stream directed from the apparatus into the surrounding environment.

BACKGROUND

Apparatuses and methods hereof relate generally to air diffusing andwater misting apparatuses and/or methods and systems thereof, and moreparticularly to apparatuses or devices that can be used to diffuse airand water in a residential or commercial setting, to distribute ordisperse a misted stream of water, typically of tiny water droplets,into the air and thereby cool the local environment. Deflected flowsincluding in some examples, spiral or other non-linear flow may beachieved hereby as well.

Evaporative cooling involves the evaporation of a liquid, often in thesurrounding air, cooling the surrounding air and thereby the environmentin which the liquid has evaporated. One very basic example ofevaporative cooling, sweat, involves the body's secretion of what isprimarily water, which evaporates off the body and ultimately cools thesweating person. In the context of the present development, the liquidthat will evaporate is projected into the ambient air in such a mannerthat it readily evaporates, cooling the air and environment into whichit is projected.

The principle of evaporative cooling is put to use in a number ofapplications for cooling ambient air. Small-scale evaporative coolers,sometimes called swamp coolers or sump coolers, can be used inresidential and certain commercial settings. Wet cooling towers and airwashers also use the principle of evaporative cooling, but for differentpurposes than evaporative coolers. As is relevant here, one applicationof the principle of evaporative cooling is the misting system.

A typical misting system will involve water forced through ahigh-pressure pump and tubing through a nozzle with a narrow orifice,creating an exceptionally fine mist at the egress point of the nozzle.The mist contains water droplets so small that they may flash evaporate,absorbing the heat from the air, and reducing the surrounding airtemperature rapidly and dramatically. Such a system may be mounted awayfrom the final target area, to cool the air at the target area withoutnecessarily exposing the objects or people in the target area to themist. Such a system may be used indoors or outdoors.

The various devices and/or methods for dispersing water in a stream ofair, some of which are illustrated above, may have to be tailored to theparticular application. Due to the nature of some of the devices and/ormethods, some do not offer appropriate control over the stream of wateror the placement of the various components of the apparatus. In manysuch situations, these prior methods require undue modification toavoid, i.e., inadvertently getting the occupants of the environmentunduly wet.

SUMMARY

Disclosed here are apparatuses and methods for air diffusing and watermisting, and more particularly, apparatuses or devices that can be usedto distribute air and water in a residential or commercial setting, todisperse a diffused non-linear flow or stream of water into the air forcooling purposes. An apparatus hereof may include a body portion forholding a nozzle with one or more deflectors associated therewith, thebody portion having an external portion and an internal, often movableportion, and a support mechanism within the internal circular portion tosupport the nozzle. The apparatus may also include a pump mechanismoperatively connectable to the body portion, the pump mechanism adaptedto provide a stream of water of the necessary pressure to enablesuitable misting. The body portion may also be disposed, in singular orin plural, in an array to be mounted in a suitable location within anenvironment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Apparatuses and methods hereof will be better understood by reference tothe following more detailed description and accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 provides a first, back-side isometric view of an air diffusingand water misting apparatus;

FIG. 2 provides a second, front-side isometric view of an air diffusingand water misting apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of air diffusing and water mistingapparatuses like those of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of an air diffusing and water mistingapparatus like that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an air diffusing and water mistingapparatus like those of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a back-side isometric view of an alternative air diffusing andwater misting apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the air diffusing and water mistingapparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the air diffusing and water mistingapparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is top plan view of the air diffusing and water misting apparatusof FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 provides a front-side isometric view of an air diffusing andwater misting apparatus hereof;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of an air diffusing and water mistingapparatus like that of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of an air diffusing and water mistingapparatus like those of FIGS. 10 and 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of air diffusing and water mistingapparatuses like those of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a front isometric view of an alternative air diffusing andwater misting apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the air diffusing and water mistingapparatus of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of the air diffusing and water mistingapparatus of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is side elevational view of the air diffusing and water mistingapparatus of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a wall unit incorporating two airdiffusing and water misting apparatuses hereof;

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a wall unit incorporating four airdiffusing and water misting apparatuses hereof;

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of an alternative apparatus including waterline and ceiling mount;

FIG. 21 is another isometric view of an alternative apparatus includingceiling mount;

FIG. 22 is a schematic representation of some functional elementsaccording to an implementation hereof; and,

FIG. 23, which includes subpart FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C, providesschematic views of some alternative implementations hereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described here are apparatuses and methods for air diffusing and watermisting, and more particularly apparatuses or devices that can be usedto diffuse air and water in a residential or commercial setting,particularly to distribute or disperse a misted stream of water into adiffused air stream for cooling purposes. Methods for use of suchapparatuses are also described.

Accordingly, such an apparatus 100 is illustrated, for a first examplein FIGS. 1 through 5. The apparatus 100 may advantageously be used forair diffusing and water misting and may be particularly adapted for usein either an indoor or outdoor environment. As such, the apparatus 100may provide for controlled delivery of a diffused stream of water,typically a fine mist, to the surrounding environment, which may providefor desirable cooling effects.

An apparatus 100 for misting water in a diffused air stream accordinghereto may in many implementations be characterized as having a firstoperational end 101, generally the intake end for both air and water,and a second operational end 102, generally the end through which themisted water and diffused air egress from the apparatus 100 and enterthe environment. The first end 101 may also be referred to herein as aback-side and the second side 102 as a front-side.

The apparatus 100 may include an outer body portion 110 and an innerbody portion 120, as shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 2 (noting that insome alternatives only a single body portion may be used, see fornon-limiting example, FIGS. 20 and 21 described below). The outer bodyportion 110 may form the framework within which the inner body portion120 is disposed. The outer body portion 110 may have several subparts,such as a ring portion 130, an inner lip portion 140, and an outer lipportion 150. The ring portion 130 may, as shown, form the circumferenceof the apparatus 100. The inner lip portion 140 extends away from theplane of the ring portion 130 and towards the first end 101 of theapparatus 100, forming what is shown here as a circular ‘wall’ at anapproximate right angle to the plane of the ring portion 130. The outerlip portion 150 similarly extends away from the plane of the ringportion 130 and towards the first end 101 of the apparatus 100, therebyforming a smaller circular wall at an approximate right angle to theplane of the ring portion 130.

The inner portion 120 of the apparatus 100 may be adapted to be disposedwithin the outer portion 110. The inner portion 120 may either bemovably or fixedly disposed within the outer portion 110 (shown here maybe a non-limiting representation of a semi-spherical “eyeball”-typemoving mechanism of the inner portion 120 within the otherwisesubstantially stationary framework 110; although other inner and outermovement mechanisms for a movable inner portion 120 may alternatively beused). The inner portion 120 may include a partially circular exteriorportion 160 and an interior portion 170. The curved nature of theexterior portion 160 may allow the inner portion 120 to move within theouter portion 110 of the apparatus 100. The interior, generally hollowedportion 170 of the inner portion 120 may have or form a concave openingportion 180 at or near the first end 101 and a substantially cylindricalportion 190 at or near the second end 102. Furthermore at or near thesecond end 102 of the apparatus 100, the inner portion 120 may have alip 195 (see FIG. 2). The semi-spherical and substantially cylindricalsections 170, 180 and 190 (and lip 195) may thus define the air flowpassage through the device 100.

The nozzle portion 200 of the apparatus 100 may be disposed to runsubstantially longitudinally through the interior portion 120,particularly within the air flow portion 170, and in the shownimplementation, through substantially the center of the interior and airflow portions 120 and 170. The nozzle portion 200 may be or present assubstantially cylindrical, as shown or may be of some other nozzleshape, whether reducing or expanding (or both) in cross-sectionaldiameter. The nozzle portion 200 is here held in place by an arrangement210 of one or more arms (see e.g., FIG. 4), generally; but, morespecifically in the FIGS. 1 and 2, here, a first arm 210 a, a second arm210 b, a third arm 210 c, and a fourth arm 210 d. The four arms 210 a-dmay, as shown in this implementation but, not by way of limitation, beperpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the nozzle portion 200and the longitudinal axis of the inner portion 120. More or fewer armsmay be used, or other structures, not necessarily arms, straight orotherwise, may be used to dispose the nozzle in the air flow channel 170of the device 100. Different functionalities may be achieved withalternative dispositions of arms and/or with associated structures asdescribed below.

In operation, water is then flowed through the nozzle 200 from theback-side 101 toward the front-side 102; while typically also, air maybe flowed through the airflow channel 170, also from the back-side 101toward the front-side 102. The nozzle then provides for small dropletsof water, typically in a mist form, that can then be carried on adiffusing air stream exiting the device 100 out the front-side 102thereof. Such an air stream can then be used to deliver the water mistin a desirable direction, and with a desirable, air speed controlled,velocity and/or distance. Otherwise the air stream can itself be cooledby the mist evaporating therein, the cooler air then being flowed ordirected to a desired location. Better control of the cooling effect maythus be provided. Moreover, the present developments may reduce ambienttemperature by as much as 20 degrees (e.g., more often outdoortemperatures), while substantially keeping surfaces and people cool anddry. The positioning and placement of one or more of the devices maytypically be integrated into surroundings, often not merely suspended orplaced in a space (although see alternatives below), such as a mistingline or fans would be. A movable inner portion 120, if used, may bedirected or focused to provide the combined air and water stream to adesired location. An eyeball-type inner portion 120 may provide a widevariety of directionality for such a directed stream. The devices hereofmay typically be durable and easy to access for cleaning and servicepurposes. They may be suitable for placement in commercial orresidential settings, or any other installation environment.

The devices and systems hereof may generally utilize low-flow,high-pressure misting combined with a high velocity air delivery system.This method of delivery will typically use a fraction of the water of atypical missing system. The high-velocity air output assists theevaporative process, and may be adapted so that the cool air maydecelerate to a target velocity at the target area. The system may alsobe adapted to use energy and resources sparingly. Furthermore, the useof standard electrical voltage and models that can plug into a wall mayprovide ease of installation and operation.

An apparatus 100 hereof can be constructed in any suitable and/orconventional manner, in one non-limiting example, by injection molding,using any suitable and/or conventional materials, again, in somenon-limiting examples, high-impact plastic or acrylic. Other materialsand construction methods could alternatively be used. The outer portion110, inner portion 120, and nozzle portion 200 may be pre-molded in asimilar or dissimilar fashions, and may be pre-made together, or broughttogether after separate prior forming of each of two or more discretelymanufactured parts.

As was generally true for the apparatus 100 of FIGS. 1-5, the apparatus100 in FIG. 6 includes a connectability of the nozzle to a water source,here using one or combination or a series of nuts 220 a, 220 b and 220c, at the first end 101 of the nozzle 200. The nuts 220 a, 220 b and 220c may provide the function of attaching to a water line, not shown herebut see FIGS. 22 and 23 (i.e., 23A, 23B and/or 23C) below, bearingpressurized water, to the nozzle 200. An exemplar distance by which thefirst nut may extend beyond the plane of the first end 101 of theapparatus 100 is illustrated in FIG. 7. A first end view of theapparatus 100 showing the nut positioned in congruity to the nozzle 200is illustrated in FIG. 8, and a second end view of the apparatus 100showing the nut positioned in congruity to the nozzle 200 is illustratedin FIG. 9.

It may be noted that the apparatuses of any of FIGS. 1-9 (and 10-17,inter alia, see below) may thus have a water line attached to thenozzle; however, the air intake is not directly shown. An exemplar usagemay include fixing the device 100 one or adjacent a forced air ductwork,not shown here, but see FIG. 23 described in more detail below,providing an egress point for pressurized air flowing through such aduct work. Alternatively, one or more devices may be disposed to receiveair in alternative manners; see also FIG. 23, below.

A first alternative implementation is shown in FIGS. 10-13, where anapparatus 800, not unlike apparatus 100 above, however, here shown withthree arms 810 a, 810 b, and 810 c. The nozzle portion 200 is here heldin place by the arrangement 810 of one or more arms, here, a first arm810 a, a second arm 810 b, and a third arm 810 c. The three arms 810 a-cmay, as shown in this implementation but, not by way of limitation, beangularly disposed relative to each other and offset relative to thenozzle portion 200 and the longitudinal axis of the inner openflow-through area. More or fewer arms may be used, or other structures,not necessarily arms, straight or otherwise, may be used to dispose thenozzle in the air flow channel of the device 800. Differentfunctionalities may be achieved with alternative dispositions of armsand associated structures as described below. The angularly disposedarms 810 may provide for or impose a relative circular flow or spiral orother non-linear flow exiting the apparatus 800. It may be the angulardisposition of the arms that achieves non-linear flow. Non-linear flowwhether circular or otherwise may provide for moving the air into bettercontact with the water outlet to mix with the water to generate mist. Anangularly disposed flow that crosses the water outlet may better achievegeneration of a misting effect. Note, the crossing flow of the airrelative to the water outlet may be laminar or turbulent and either maybetter generate misting. This is described further below.

A further exemplar for providing a circular, spiral or other non-linearflow may be found shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 17. In these, A furtheralternative implementation is shown, where an apparatus 900, not unlikeapparatuses 100 and 800 above, however, here shown with three arms 910a, 910 b, and 910 c. The nozzle portion 200 is here held in place by thearrangement 910 of one or more arms, here, a first arm 910 a, a secondarm 910 b, and a third arm 910 c. The three arms 910 a-c may, as shownin this implementation but, not by way of limitation, be angularlydisposed as was the case in FIGS. 10-13, relative to each other andoffset relative to the nozzle portion 200 and the longitudinal axis ofthe inner open flow-through area. More or fewer arms may be used, orother structures, not necessarily arms, straight or otherwise, may beused to dispose the nozzle in the air flow channel of the device 900.Here for example, louvers or deflector flanges 920 a, 920 b and 920 care shown as these may be disposed relative or connected to arms 910 a910 b and 910 c. These deflector structures may more significantlyimpose a circular, spiral or other non-linear out flow. Differentfunctionalities may be achieved with alternative dispositions of armsand associated structures as described below. The angularly disposedarms 910 and/or the louvers/deflectors 920 may provide for or impose arelative circular spiral or other non-linear flow exiting the apparatus900. This is described further below but is also shown by example by theschematically represented non-linear outflow 955 in FIG. 17 for a firstexample. Non-linear flow whether circular or otherwise may provide formoving the air into better contact with the water outlet to mix with thewater to generate mist. Louvers or deflectors may better achieve aflattened flow directed more effectively across the water outlet toachieve misting. An angularly disposed flow that crosses the wateroutlet may better achieve generation of a misting effect. Note, thecrossing flow of the air relative to the water outlet may be laminar orturbulent and either may better generate misting.

In operation, as was the case for the examples shown and describedrelative to FIGS. 1-9, water is then flowed through the nozzle 200toward the front-side of the apparatuses 800 and/or 900; while typicallyalso, air may be flowed through the airflow channel, also from theback-side toward the front-side of the apparatuses 800/900. The nozzlethen provides for small droplets of water, typically in a mist form,that can then be carried on a diffusing air stream exiting the device800/900 out the front-sides thereof. Such an air stream can then be usedto deliver the water mist in a desirable direction, here shown with apossible circular, spiral, or cyclone like rotational or othernon-linear flow (see e.g., flow 955 in FIG. 17) and with a desirable,air speed controlled, velocity and/or distance (note the flow may belaminar or it may be that the arms and/or louvers impose someturbulence, though non-linear is typical regardless whether laminar orturbulent). Non-linear flow whether circular, spiral or rotational orotherwise may provide for moving the air into better contact with waterexiting at the water outlet to mix with the air with the water togenerate mist. Better contact may include better mixing and/or bettermist generation. An angularly disposed flow that crosses the wateroutlet may better achieve generation of a misting effect. Note, thecrossing flow of the air relative to the water outlet may be laminar orturbulent and either may better generate misting. Otherwise the airstream can itself be cooled by the mist evaporating therein, the coolerair then being flowed or directed to a desired location. Better controlof the cooling effect may thus be provided. Moreover, the presentdevelopments may reduce ambient temperature by as much as 20 degrees(e.g., more often outdoor temperatures), while substantially keepingsurfaces and people cool and dry. The positioning and placement of oneor more of the devices may typically be integrated into surroundings,often not merely suspended or placed in a space (although seealternatives below), such as a misting line or fans would be. A movableinner portion (as described for the examples of FIGS. 1-9 above), ifused, may be directed or focused to provide the combined air and waterstream to a desired location. An eyeball-type inner portion may providea wide variety of directionality for such a directed stream. The deviceshereof may typically be durable and easy to access for cleaning andservice purposes. They may be suitable for placement in commercial orresidential settings, or any other installation environment.

In view hereof, FIG. 18 illustrates another implementation of anapparatus hereof, here, as a wall-mount unit 300. Two of the apparatuses100 and/or 800 and/or 900 are shown disposed on/within the wall mountunit 300. Each apparatus 100/800/900 is mounted on/in the wall unit 300,which can then be mounted on the interior or exterior surface of abuilding wall or hung from a ceiling, e.g. An exemplar mounting mayinclude apparatus 100/800/900 being affixed to the wall unit throughscrews 310 a, b, and c, driven through the circular ring 130 of theapparatus 100/800/900 and serving to fixedly adhere the circular ring130 of the apparatus to the wall mount unit 300, ring 130 thus holdingframe portion 110 substantially stationary relative to the mounting unit300. Note that the inner portion 120 of the apparatus 100/800/900, notbeing fixedly mounted to the wall mount unit 300, may still move withinthe outer portion 110 to thus still provide directional alternatives forthe air and water stream emitted therefrom. The second end 102 of theapparatus 100/800/900 is thus presented outwardly, here, visible, as isthe exit portion of the nozzle 200 disposed therein. The wall mount unit300 may be affixed on or near a wall or other surface of a building,typically near enough to a wall to permit connection of the water line,but far enough away to allow for the free circulation of ambient air.Note, air intake for such a unit can either be by way of a ductwork asabove and relative to FIG. 23 below, or more typically, one or morefans, not shown here, but see FIG. 23 below, may be included to bring inambient air so long as the mounting unit 300 is disposed sufficientlyfar from a wall. Note, fan usage is described further below.

In FIG. 19, a similar wall mount system 400 is illustrated, againtypically far enough away from the wall on which it is mounted to permitfree circulation of ambient air from behind the mounting system 400 toallow air to enter the back-side 101 for flow through the device100/800/900, back to front. In this wall mount system 400, there arefour of the apparatuses 100/800/900, mounted at a suitable distance fromeach other to allow for effective dispersion of the misted water.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate a different variety of apparatus 500/800/900but still within the scope hereof. In this version, the overall devicemay be made of a single molded piece, without the two-piece,eyeball-type motion of the device shown in FIGS. 1-9 (e.g., only asingle body portion, not two or more). The rotation of the stream outletfor directional control of this device might then come from the way itis mounted. In FIG. 20, the mounting bracket 510 may be rotatablyattached to the body of the apparatus 500/800/900 at least at point 520a (shown) and 520 b (not shown) and rotatably attached to the ceiling atpoint 530. The nozzle 540 is visible in both FIG. 20 and FIG. 21; inFIG. 20, the mist of water 550 is also visible. The attachments of theapparatus 500/800/900 to the mounting bracket 510 at points 520 a and520 b may allow the apparatus 500/800/900 to move in a vertically arcedmanner such a way that the nozzle 540 and with it the mist of water 550may be angled either more toward or more away from the ceiling. Themount 530 may allow the apparatus 500/800/900 to be moved laterally sothat the nozzle 540 and with it the mist of water 550 may be angled inany position defined by a circle of rotation about point 530 to reach adesired target.

The apparatuses 500/800/900 illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21 also showutilization of a different air flow or pumping mechanism than theapparatus described earlier. Shown in FIG. 20 are a water line 560feeding directly into the apparatus 500/800/900 (as ultimately connectedon the back-side with the nozzle 540, to feed water to the nozzle 540),and an electrical wire 570 leading directly to the apparatus500/800/900. The apparatus 500/800/900 may contain an internal fan, notshown, to provide a flow of air through the air flow channel and thuscapture and carry the atomized water from the apparatus 500/800/900. Ina functional alternative, the flow of air forced by the internal fan mayassist in creating the smaller water droplets, i.e., helping to atomizethe water within the apparatus 500/800/900. In such case, the incomingwater entering through the water line 560 may or may not need to bepressurized or need a small nozzle orifice, due to the potential for airflow assistance in creating tiny water droplets for dispersion. In anycase, the incoming water entering through the water line 560 may eitherbe atomized by the internal fan, or merely carried by the air flowcaused by the fan, and thereafter issue from the nozzle 540 and device500/800/900 as a mist of water 550. An alternative possiblecircular/rotational/spiral or other non-linear outflow 955 is shown inFIG. 21 for the possible effect of apparatuses 800 and/or 900 usedherein/herewith.

FIG. 22 illustrates a method of delivery of the water in certainimplementations. The water source 600 delivers water to thehigh-pressure misting pump 610. The high-pressure misting pump sendspressurized water through a water line 620, e.g., high pressure nylontubing, and into the delivery apparatus, system or array 630 of devices100/800/900 to provide for an issuance of a stream of mist 640. A powerand/or control station 650 is also shown in FIG. 22 representing thepower supply to the pump 610 and/or the misting units particularly iffans or other electrical means are included therewith.

The high-pressure misting pump of FIG. 22 may have some or all of thefollowing features. The pump may operate on a high pressure/low flowpumping system, at about 800-1000 psi operating pressure. The pump mayhave features that are standard to the industry, such as a 120 volt wallplug-in, a 5 micron filter, and a standard hose bib water connection.The placement of the pump may be away from the operating environment tominimize exposure to the elements. The pump's relatively simple designshould require minimum maintenance. A single pump can support multipleports through which the water is atomized.

The nozzle, as in any of the previous nozzles described herein, may haveone or more of the following features. The shape of the nozzle orificemay be small, to produce extremely small water droplet size tofacilitate atomization. The nozzle may have a ruby tip to preventorifice erosion. The orifice may have multiple sizes, such as 0.003″,0.004″, 0.006″, 0.008″, to suit a variety of conditions andenvironments. The nozzle may have an about 100 psi check valve and anabout 600-1000 psi operating pressure. A filter insert may help resistclogging, and the nozzle may be designed for easy finger tightreplacement.

FIG. 23, see sub-parts 23A, 23B and 23C, includes three non-limitingvariations on systems for implementations hereof. As introduced aboveand shown in FIG. 23A, a device 100/800/900 can be implemented inassociation with a ductwork 701 of an air (or other gaseous) supplysystem 700. A fan or other movement sub-system 711 may be used to movethe air in the ductwork 701 to and ultimately through the device100/800/900. A water supply 600 is shown schematically providing water(or other cooling fluid) to a water line 620 for delivery to the nozzle200. The water line may be alternatively entirely within the duct work(not shown), or entirely outside of the ductwork (providing to anexternal portion of the device 100/800/900, also not shown), or may beas shown, partly exterior to and partly disposed within the ductwork asby being passed through a hole therein. An air flow from the ductworkcan then carry the mist from the nozzle, and particularly as may bevariably directed, the device can be used for controlling the directionof delivery of the mist. The air flow rate can be used also to provide avariable for the delivery of the distance and/or speed of the mist.

The alternative of FIG. 23B involves no ductwork and an optional airsupply system 700 with optional fan 711. Note the fan may be disposed inthe mounting unit 300/400 (though not shown) with the apparatuses100/800/900 or may be external thereto. Note the water supply and waterline may be relatively easily connected in this example. Also note theuse of the mounting member 300 and/or 400 in FIG. 23B. Though not shownin FIG. 23A, such a mounting member might be used there as well;however, with an otherwise pre-assembled ductwork, the device mighteither be connected directly thereto, or to or on a wall behind whichthe ductwork may be disposed.

The alternative of FIG. 23C involves a relatively self-containedapparatus 500 like those of FIGS. 20 and 21 with an apparatus100/800/900 disposed therein. Here, it may be seen that the air supply700 is incorporated in the form of a fan 711 disposed within theapparatus 500/100/800/900. The water supply 600 and water line 620 maybe disposed to provide water in a fashion like that schematically shownhere. Note the functional containment of air movement device 711 withinthe same apparatus as the nozzle 200 as shown her could also be usedwith the mounted unit assembly of FIG. 23B as well.

Note, if apparatuses 800/900 are used with angular arms 81 a, 810 b, 810c and/or arms 910 a, 910 b, 910 c with or without their respectivelouvers or deflector structures 920 a, 920 b and 920 c, then, a circularor rotational or cyclone or spiral or other non-linear type flow, suchas flow 955 as shown in each of FIGS. 23A, 23B and/or 23C may beachieved.

Having described a variety of implementations, numerous otheralternative implementations or variations might also and/oralternatively be made. Alternative implementations of the apparatus canbe variants on the shape, array, and arrangement so that the nozzle ornozzles and/or air flow devices and flow channels may be disposed in avariety of configurations.

The present apparatus has been described in detail including variousimplementations thereof. However, it should be appreciated that thoseskilled in the art, upon consideration of the present disclosure, maymake modifications and/or improvements on the apparatus hereof and yetremain within the scope and spirit hereof as set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water-misting, cooling apparatus for providinga cooling water-mist stream into an open non-confined environment, thewater-misting, cooling apparatus comprising: a body portion having aflow channel defined therein for gaseous air flow therethrough, the flowchannel having a circular egress; a nozzle operatively disposed withinthe flow channel at the circular egress; said nozzle adapted to direct acooling water-mist therefrom; and, one or more arms connected to thebody portion and angularly disposed relative to the nozzle; the channeland the nozzle being operatively disposed relative to each other so thata gaseous air flowing through the channel and the cooling water-mist arecombined into a cooling water-mist stream and evaporatively-cooledgaseous air stream directed from the apparatus into the surrounding opennon-confined environment, the one or more arms providing for anon-linear outflow; the non-linear flow defined by the one or more armsas one or more of circular, spiral, cyclone or rotational; and, thenon-linear flow providing for moving the gaseous air into better contactwith water exiting at a water outlet to mix the air with the water togenerate mist.
 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, the body portionincluding two portions; an outer body portion; and an inner body portionadapted to be disposed on or within the outer body portion; the innerbody portion having the flow channel defined therein between a first endof the apparatus and a second end of the apparatus; optionally, theinner body portion is movable within the outer body portion to provide adirectional egress for the fluid stream and, optionally an outer surfaceof the inner body portion is rounded in a manner that enables rotationalmovement within the outer body portion.
 3. An apparatus as recited inclaim 2, the arms providing for the non-linear flow.
 4. An apparatus asrecited in claim 1, the one or more arms being affixed to both an innersurface of the channel and to the nozzle to hold the nozzle in a fixedposition within the channel.
 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, thenozzle being adapted to be coupled to a water line at a first end of theapparatus.
 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, the apparatus beingconnected in an operational disposition.
 7. An apparatus as recited inclaim 1, the apparatus being operatively associated with a gas ductingsystem for the provision of a gas flow thereto.
 8. An apparatus asrecited in claim 1, the apparatus being operatively associated with afan for the provision of a gas flow thereto.
 9. An apparatus as recitedin claim 8, the fan being disposed one or more of externally thereof ordisposed therewithin.
 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprisingone or more louvers or deflector structures to further provide fornon-linear outflow.
 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprisingoperational attachment to a surface of an interior surface of abuilding.
 12. A system for dispersing cooling water mist into an opennon-confined environment, the system comprising: an apparatus fordelivering the cooling water mist into the open non-confinedenvironment, the apparatus comprising: a body portion with a channelbetween a first end of the apparatus and a second end of the apparatus,the channel having a circular egress at the second end; a nozzleoperatively disposed within the channel at the circular egress; saidnozzle adapted to direct cooling water mist through the second end ofthe apparatus into the surrounding environment; one or more armsangularly disposed relative to the nozzle and connected to theapparatus; a water line adapted for delivering water to the apparatus; apropulsion mechanism for mixing air with the water and directing themixed air and water as a cooling water mist and evaporatively-cooledgaseous air stream into the surrounding environment, and the one or morearms providing for a non-linear outflow; the non-linear flow defined bythe one or more arms as one or more of circular, spiral, cyclone orrotational; and, the non-linear flow providing for moving theevaporatively-cooled gaseous air stream into better contact with waterexiting at a water outlet to mix the air with the water to generatemist.
 13. A system according to claim 12, one or both: the non-linearflow is one or more of circular, spiral, cyclone or rotational; or, thenon-linear flow provides for moving the air into better contact withwater exiting at the water outlet to mix with the air with the water togenerate mist.
 14. A system according to claim 12, comprising one ormore louvers or deflector structures to further provide for non-linearoutflow.
 15. A method for delivering cooling water mist into anenvironment, the method comprising: situating an apparatus for coolingwater mist dispersion in an environment; channeling a stream of coolingwater mist through the apparatus via a nozzle disposed within theapparatus, directing the stream of cooling water mist in a particularmanner such that the air in the environment is cooled by the evaporativeaction of the cooling water mist, diverting outflow by one or more armsangularly disposed relative to the nozzle, the one or more armsproviding for a non-linear outflow of mixed air and water as a coolingwater mist and evaporatively-cooled gaseous air stream into theenvironment; the non-linear flow defined by the one or more arms as oneor more of circular, spiral, cyclone or rotational; and, the non-linearflow providing for moving the evaporatively-cooled gaseous air streaminto better contact with water exiting at a water outlet to mix the airwith the water to generate mist.
 16. A method according to claim 15, theoperation of directing the stream of water including one or both: thenon-linear flow is one or more of circular, spiral or rotational; or,the non-linear flow provides for moving the air into better contact withwater exiting at the water outlet to mix with the air with the water togenerate mist.
 17. A method according to claim 15, the operation ofdirecting the stream of water including one or both: pumping the waterthrough the nozzle; and, fanning an air stream adjacent the water tocarry the water.
 18. A method according to claim 15, the method furthercomprising creating a mist of the water at the nozzle and evaporatingthe mist in air.
 19. A method according to claim 15 comprising one ormore louvers or deflector structures to further provide for non-linearoutflow.